SOUTH Bendigo faces another pressure test when it tackles Gisborne in Saturday’s second round of the Bendigo Bank Bendigo FNL senior footy season.
The Bloods mark their first home game of ’26 when they play the Bulldogs at Harry Trott Oval in Kennington’s Neale Street from 2.20pm.
A South Bendigo team coached by Troy Coates, non-playing, and Jack Fallon, playing, takes a one-one record into this match after being beaten in a Good Friday thriller at Strathfieldsaye’s Triple M Park by seven points.
South’s season started with a 200-plus point win in a stand-alone match at Broadford’s Harley Hammond Reserve.
The Rob Waters-coached Gisborne made a hot start to the season as it beat Kangaroo Flat at Melbourne North Truck Centre Oval in Gardiner Reserve by 124 points.
Plenty of crucial match-ups will be played out between South Bendigo and Gisborne.
Bloods’ ruckmen Callum Crisp and Mac Cameron will take on Michelsen medallist Braidon Blake.
Just who gains the ascendancy at centre ball-ups and stoppages will have a major say in the slippery conditions.
At ground level the Bloods have Nathan Kay, Coen Harker and Brody Haddow to take on Michelsen medallist Brad Bernacki, Adam Brancatisano and Dylan Johnstone.
Among the changes at South Bendigo is key forward James Frawley out after kicking five goals at Strathfieldsaye.
A premiership winner with Hawthorn, Frawley is a development coach with Gold Coast Suns.
As Frawley goes out this week, South Bendigo regains hard-running defender Isaiah Miller.
Key targets for the Bloods in attack will be James Davies, Brock Harvey and Alex Smith.
They take on a Gisborne defence led by Zach Vescovi, Harry Thomas, Will Elliott and Frank Schipano.
At the other end of the ground, Bloods’ defenders Will Allen, Ollie Turnbull, Hayden Geddes and Nathan Horbury cannot afford to relax against Zac Denahy, Pat McKenna, Dominic Sullivan and Lucas Hannon.
Golden Square and Eaglehawk are both on the rebound from defeat as they take to C & M Oval at Eaglehawk’s Canterbury Park.
This match was scheduled at Gourmet Pantry Oval in Wade Street, but ongoing works at Golden Square’s home meant a switch to the Borough.
The Brad Eaton and Liam Barrett-coached Golden Square face a fired-up Eaglehawk following a 38-point loss to Sandhurst in the grand final rematch.
The Bulldogs will look to the experienced Jordan Rosengren, Tom Strauch, Drew Barrett, Terry Reeves, Harry and Jayden Burke to win many contests.
Plenty to like about the skill of youngsters Archie, Macey and Ollie Eaton; Josh Kelly, Archie Edwards and Noah Warfe for the blue and gold.
Eaglehawk is bolstered by the inclusion of Max Kennedy, Jack Donat, and Lachlan Walker.
Last season’s George Symons medallist as league fairest and best in the under-18s competition, Cahal Blandthorn will mark his first senior match.
A strong team coached by Travis Matheson and Clayton Holmes includes Billy Evans, Charlie Langford, Joel Mullen, ruckman Callum Heath, Sam O’Shannessy and Ben Thompson.
Broadford will play on the Queen Elizabeth Oval for the first time as the Kangaroos face a red-hot Sandhurst.
The Nathan Thompson-coached Broadford had the bye on the Easter weekend after the stand-alone game at home the previous Saturday against South Bendigo.
Sandhurst controlled most of the rematch of the ’25 grand final against Eaglehawk to win by 38 points.
Dragons’ forwards Tom Campbell, co-coach Fergus Greene and Cobi Maxted are likely to have many scoring chances set up by the likes of Oliver Morris, Jacob Austin, Lachie Hood and Nick Stagg.
Among the changes at the den is Gus Hay for his senior debut.
The ability of Broadford to bring and keep a high level of pressure against their hard-running and skilful opponents will be tested every quarter.
Crucial roles for the Roos will be played by Riley Edwards in the centre; Jay Eager, Oliver Lubeck and Adam Miles in defence; ruckman Owen Sloan, and ruck-rover Louis Thompson.
Kangaroo Flat will be back on home turf at Dower Park to take on Castlemaine.
The Tyrone Downie-coached Roos have plenty of run through Aaron Nevins, Mitch Collins, Mitch Rovers, Kyle Symons and Zach Bird.
Angus Macpherson, Max Johnson and Nick Lang will test the Magpies with their marking strength.
The Bailey Henderson-coached Magpies are bolstered by the inclusion of gun forward Zack Derksen who kicked four goals for Nightcliff in its Northern Territory League premiership win and on-baller Dylan Landt from St Mary’s.
Derksen joins a Magpies’ attack that includes Archie Rixon and Michael Hartley who was the club’s senior coach the past two seasons.
Players to watch for Castlemaine include Zavier Murley, Kalan Huntly and Hunter Staples.
Strathfieldsaye has the bye.
Bendigo FNL senior footy ladder:
Gisborne 338 per cent, 4 points; South Bendigo 253, 4; Sandhurst 150, 4; Castlemaine 109, 4; Strathfieldsaye 106, 4; Golden Square 91, 0; Eaglehawk 66, 0; Kangaroo Flat 29, 0; Broadford 5, 0.
Leaders in the goalkicking race for the Ron Best Medal:
11 Kaiden Antonowicz, SB.
6 Alex Smith, SB.
5 Zac Denahy, SB; James Frawley, SB; Brock Harvey, SB.
4 Brad Bernacki, Gis.; Mac Cameron, SB; Brody Haddow, SB; Drew Lloyd, S’saye; Harry Luxmoore, Gis.; Cobi Maxted, Sh; Archie Rixon, Cm.
3 Adam Brancatisano, Gis.; Archie Eaton, GS; Coen Harker, SB; Michael Hartley, Cm; Nick Keogh, KF; Tyson McKenzie, S’saye; Matt Merrett, Gis.; Anthony Zimmerman, SB.
2 Jacob Austin, Sh; Pat Blake, S’saye; Jayden Burke, GS; Brodie Byrne, Cm; Tom Campbell, Sh; Zach Charles, S’saye; Caleb Connick, Sh; Jonty Davis, Sh; Kalan Huntly, Cm; Joel Mullen, Eh; Sam O’Shannessy, Eh; James Schischka, S’saye; Harrison Sheahan, Cm; Tom Strauch, GS; Dominic Sullivan, Gis.; Tom Templeton, SB; Ben Thompson, Eh.
